Molecular characterization of the goatpox virus from an outbreak in Villupuram district, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

A Severe outbreak of goat pox occurred on a goat farm in Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, India. The overall morbidity rate was 100%, while the mortality rate was 32%. The clinical signs and post mortem were suggestive of Capripoxvirus infection. Polymerase Chain Reaction- Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR – RFLP) confirmed that the present outbreak was due to goatpox virus (GTPV). Sequence analysis revealed that the study isolate had 100% to 99.02% sequence similarity with other goat pox virus sequences and the signature residues at position 77 (G), 275(T), 403 (T), 552 (T), 867(G), 964 (G) further confirmed the study sequence as goat pox virus. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the study sequence was closely related to other Indian and Chinese GTPV strains. The outbreak was controlled by administering antibiotics, analgesics and applying turmeric –neem paste to the ailing population while, the population under risk was vaccinated with live attenuated goat pox vaccine.